A Dictionary of Irish Mythology [Paperback]

Peter Berresford Ellis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 19, 1987

Including stories of gods and heroes, goddesses and heroines, of high adventure, the triumph of love, and the conflict of good and evil, the book outlines the place of Irish myths in the context of European culture and explains their relationship with other Celtic mythologies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A who's who and what's what of irish legends and myths....The writing is entertaining and informative....The contents of this book suggest a thorough mastery of the subject."--Preview

"The entries are concise and knowledgeable....No other reference work seems to attempt to do what Ellis' does: present to the lay English reader a window to one of Europe's oldest mythologies in a dictionary format....A useful companion."--Reference Quarterly

"Readable and informative....Ellis has done his work well....A good ancillary to Irish and Celtic studies."--Choice

"A well-researched and readable dictionary."--The Book Report

"Succinctly identifies the role and exploits of each character as well as his or her relationship to others in Celtic cosmology....Dispels the mystery enshrouding the little-known heroes of Irish mythology....A fine complement to the many dictionaries of classical mythology."--Wilson Library Bulletin

"[Offers an] extensive and valuable introduction....His annotations are valuable contributions to the study of Ireland's epic sagas."--American Bookman

"Excellent reference for course in Celtic myth."--Jan Anderson, Clackamas Community College

"This is an excellent ancillary text for Celtic studies. It helps make sense out of the seeming chaos of unfamiliar material."--Jan Anderson, Clackamas Community College

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

About the Author:
Peter Berresford Ellis, an historian and novelist, is the author of several books on Celtic history and culture, including The Cornish Language and its Literature (1974) and Celtic Inheritance (1985).
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: Constable; First edition (October 19, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0094675406
• ISBN-13: 978-0094675407
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,618,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Readable Encyclopedic "Dictionary of Irish Mythology", November 19, 2000

By 

Scott Peden (Ben Lomond, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dictionary of Irish Mythology (Hardcover)

This Book, as is Peter Berresford Ellis's Dictionaty of Celtic Mythology, is in my opinon deserve 6+ stars, not 5. "Irish Mythology" is not really covered in his "Celtic mythology book, Celtic Mythology is really a continuation of of this book, covering a much broader scope. I have over a dozen "Dictionaries and Encyclopedias of Celtic Mythology, Legend and Lore" and the scope and breadth of the information covered by Mr. Ellis is excellent. As you look up each entry, a full explanation is given, and if your curosity is peaked, it is easy to look up all other referances that are mentined in the text. Stories of Irish mythology, that I didn't fully grasp before, are very clear and understandable.